Manage illness via nutrition

Friday

Dec 7, 2012 at 6:00 AM

By David Waters

A generation of Americans came of age with one common understanding of HIV: A positive test result was effectively considered a death sentence.

But 30 years’ worth of research and progressive improvements in the treatment of HIV infection have altered that dark reality significantly. Today the medical community classifies HIV as a chronic condition that’s controllable with medication and healthy lifestyle choices.

The development and expanded awareness of antiretroviral medications have been critical to controlling the HIV epidemic, and slowing the progression of illness for individual patients. But the supporting role of diet and nutrition in optimizing those medications is also important.

In fact, the experiences of HIV patients over the past three decades have greatly informed the way other illnesses are treated — in particular the relationship between diet and the effectiveness of, or tolerance for, a wide variety of medications treating a broad range of conditions.

Cancer patients managing through exhaustive chemotherapy and other treatments must have diets compatible with courses of drugs that very often can make even the simplest foods a challenge to keep down. And the effective treatment of diabetes is closely linked with proper diet and lifestyle, placing much of the success in controlling that condition in the hands of the patient.

This is important in the communities of Worcester County, where the prevalence of people living with HIV/AIDS has actually grown since 2000, and the annual number of infection diagnoses has held steady at about 50.

In Worcester, cancer was the number one cause of premature death among people under the age of 75 in 2008. And in a state, like many across the nation, where diabetes is on track to reach pandemic proportions, occurrences in Worcester are above the state average. More than 8 percent of the city’s population is battling the disease.

Medically tailored meals are a vital part of the overall treatment plan for these patients, as well as those managing HIV infection. But for many living with these challenges, the economics of proper nutrition are unfortunately an additional hurdle.

More than 18 percent of Worcester residents live below the poverty line, compared to 10 percent statewide.

The reality of any illness is that it impacts the entire household of an individual patient. And in families battling poverty, the reverberating effect can be devastating. Patients with children often face the hard choice of providing for the family, or feeding themselves properly to achieve the best medical outcome. Nobody should have to face such a painful decision.

It’s for these reasons that Community Servings — a nonprofit which provides free home-delivered meals to more than 1,300 clients battling chronic illness in 18 communities — expanded service to Worcester in September.

It can be extremely difficult for individuals to cook for themselves and their families while battling severe illness. Having access to nutritious and medically tailored meals can often mean the difference between remaining at home with family and entering a hospital or other care facility.

To apply for service, clients must submit a completed intake packet, including a medical certification form completed by their doctor or nurse. Once paperwork has been submitted, Community Servings may contact the client, their doctor or case manager directly to complete the most accurate eligibility assessment. Application information can be found online at: http://www.servings.org/programs/app_process.cfm

The data on chronic illness and poverty is a clear indication that a need exists in Worcester for this type of home meal delivery. The last thing patients battling serious illness should be worrying about is how to feed themselves and their families. Removing that worry helps patients maintain their health and dignity, and preserve the integrity of their families.